Panera Bread has settled three lawsuits over its allegedly lethal Charged Lemonade, closing the book on the ill-fated energy drink which has been blamed for at least two deaths.
NBC News reported last week that an attorney for the plaintiffs suing Panera confirmed “the matters have all been resolved,” but details of the settlement were not disclosed.
Panera likewise confirmed a settlement had been reached but has not commented further.
Panera launched its highly caffeinated Charged Lemonade in the Spring of 2022, touting it as a plant-based beverage using caffeine sourced from Guarana and green coffee extract. The drinks were sold as self-serve beverages with 20 oz. cups at Panera Bread restaurants around the country.
But the initially successful line launch took a dark turn in October 2023 when the parents of a 21-year-old college student sued the company, alleging their daughter died from cardiac arrest brought on by the lemonade. While that case was settled last year, it was swiftly followed by three more lawsuits, including one that blamed the drinks for the death of a disabled 46-year-old man.
The two other cases in question alleged the Charged Lemonade caused cardiac issues for previously healthy people, including a Pennsylvania teenager who said he needed to be intubated after consuming the drink.
Panera discontinued the Charged Lemonade line last year amid the controversies.
While Charged Lemonade, which was estimated to contain up to 390 mg of caffeine in a 30 oz. pour without ice, turned into a cautionary tale of high caffeine content in energy drinks, it was far from unique in the marketplace as restaurant chains like Dunkin’ and Taco Bell have continued to embrace on-premise, self-serve energy offerings.